Proposal for a Separate Council for Fisheries and Veterinary Research

The proposal, led by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAHD), to establish a distinct Council for Fisheries and Veterinary Research, has initiated considerable debate. The plan involves separating fisheries and veterinary research from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), which has been pivotal to India's agricultural advancement for nearly a century.

Arguments for the Proposal

• With livestock and fisheries contributing over 40% to agricultural gross value added (GVA), proponents argue that a dedicated council could enhance sector visibility, secure tailored funding, and improve responsiveness.
• Examples such as the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and distinct medical and dental councils are cited as precedents for creating separate bodies.

Budgetary Evidence

• The restructuring to form MoFAHD in 2019 did not result in increased financial prioritization for livestock and fisheries, with their budget allocation dropping from 8.1% (QE 2018-19) to 3.4% (QE 2024-25) after the separation from the Ministry of Agriculture.
• Animal and fisheries research maintained a stable share of ICAR's budget, ranging from 16.5% to 21.6% between 2017-18 and 2023-24, indicating the issue lies in coordination and leadership rather than allocation.

Lessons from State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) Bifurcation

• Fragmenting SAUs into separate universities for veterinary, fisheries, and horticulture has often resulted in diluted interdisciplinary learning and stretched resources, as highlighted by the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) and the Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS).
• This approach contradicts the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates for integrated, multidisciplinary institutions.

Global Best Practices

Internationally, institutions like the USDA-ARS, Embrapa in Brazil, and ACIAR in Australia favor integrated research systems, addressing cross-cutting challenges without institutional silos.

Recommendation for Convergence

• Instead of creating a new council, India should focus on reform through National Research Missions in key areas, co-led by ICAR and MoFAHD, and establish a Policy Coordination Platform for shared agenda-setting and innovation.
• The emphasis should be on strengthening ICAR to address agricultural challenges comprehensively, rather than fragmenting existing structures.